Media
Fox News' Eric Bolling Sues Reporter for $50M After Breaking Sex Scandal
The suspended newscaster is personally suing Huffington Post contributing writer Yashar Ali for defamation.
August 10 2017 1:31 PM EST
August 10 2017 1:31 PM EST
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The suspended newscaster is personally suing Huffington Post contributing writer Yashar Ali for defamation.
Eric Bolling -- a co-host of The Specialists on Fox News -- is suing journalist Yashar Ali for his HuffPost article that reported Bolling sent unsolicited penis pictures to several colleagues at Fox Business and Fox News. Over a dozen sources have been cited in the story. Days later, Yashar announced that he'd found a lawsuit at his doorstep, precisely for $50 million.
\u201cJust received a summons. Eric Bolling is suing me for defamation - $50 million in damages. I stand by my reporting + will protect my sources\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631) 1502312660
\u201cNot going to stop reporting on Eric Bolling or anyone else. I've had family members killed/jailed in Iran, a lawsuit isn't going to scare me https://t.co/nvludsIV87\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631) 1502314255
Although most caught in a sexting scandal don't expose themselves to a lawsuit, Bolling is not going after The Huffington Post, but the individual journalist, who later insinuated that it was a PR stunt.
\u201cIt's important to note that Bolling's summons does not include HuffPost - he is coming after me personally. I'm a big boy...but very telling https://t.co/nvludsIV87\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631) 1502312990
\u201cEric Bolling\u2019s $50 Million Lawsuit is a Total PR Stunt, and He Definitely Knows It https://t.co/nLCHVR6Ofb\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631) 1502363303
However, the Huffington Post has made it clear they will continue to support Ali in the litigation to come.
The internet has mainly spoken on in support of Ali's reporting, noting how the expose was well cited and claiming it is a way to intimidate journalists.
\u201cExactly. This isn't about the story being false.\n\nThis is a harassment lawsuit against @Yashar to intimidate journalists at large. https://t.co/08pseg2LOj\u201d— Leah McElrath (@Leah McElrath) 1502320692
\u201c@yashar @BoozAllen God- I can't believe this is what's happening to reporters doing their job. Moreover, that it is done to fellow Americans by "patriots."\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631) 1502391375
\u201c@yashar @MaxineWaters Yashar Ali to Eric Bolling on his character:\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 \u06cc\u0627\u0634\u0627\u0631) 1502319478